This weekend I attended the Miss Virginia USA orientation, hosted by the FAV group at the Hilton Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Huge shoutout to the FAVulous Miss VA USA directors Lacie Ross, Darrell Williams, Sheatiel Carter and Kyle Kelley for all their hard work in putting everything together!

We went over all things pageant related, from sponsors and activities to interview prep, public speaking skills, walking styles, hair and makeup, fitness and nutrition, as well as swimsuit, and evening gown designs. I met several of the other Miss and Teen contestants and had so much fun connecting over our pageant journeys and platforms.

Some of my top takeaways from the presentations can be applied to any aspect of life, not just for Miss Virginia USA:

Interview tips:

• do your research and learn what the objectives are for the job or position you're interviewing for so you can answer the questions accordingly
• listen to the question in its entirety before answering
• do not focus on impressing the interviewer, focus on connecting with them
• do not overthink because this can lead to underperforming - instead stay authentic and true to who you are as you formulate your response
• take a deep breath before you start speaking
• slow your answers down and be sure to articulate and enunciate

Modeling tips:

• be confident
• take your time with posing
• make eye contact
• have fun and show your personality
• figure out what works for your body type
• don't forget to smile!